Aboriginal Design and Cultural Safety go Hand-In-Hand
Young visitors engaging with James Doyle’s art at the Caboolture Satellite Hospital
The walls, windows, paving and gardens of the three Metro North satellite hospitals are providing a unique canvas for cultural and physical healing.
Local Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi Traditional Owner artists were commissioned to design a mural for each facility, with key design aspects of it weaving throughout building features like walls and windows.
According to Metro North Executive Director of Sustainable Assets and Infrastructure David Walker, Metro North’s Satellite Hospitals are a great example of how Aboriginal design is used to help connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families to the facilities.
“By creating culturally safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork into the building design process provides connection and cultural significance for the community, and makes our health facilities feel more welcoming for visiting patients and community members,” said David.
“During the planning stages, there was an emphasis to incorporate Aboriginal art, design functional rooms to better suit the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to create outdoor spaces planted with native species, so areas suitable to yarning or gathering of larger family groups.”
Cultural safety in a health service organisation is about creating a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel safe, comfortable, accepted, and confident that they will be respected, will be listened to, and will receive high-quality care.
Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services Manager Tracy Grant shared a great example of a community Elder whose confidence in the health system increased due to the cultural support he received during his health journey which contributes to removing barriers to health equity.
“Some of our community members already feel reluctance visiting any kind of hospital,” said Tracy.
“By providing health closer to home in welcoming environments means people can easily drop-in and ask questions about their medication, what services are available and enjoy a yarn with their community or our staff.”
Kallangur Satellite Hospital Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services Nurse Navigator Trina Scott agrees and said that by incorporating artwork into the facility, it shows respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their communities, and their cultures.
“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service is a new service unique to the three Metro North Satellite Hospitals which provides a culturally safe space for health services to conduct assessments, provide education and improve access to care,” said Trina.
“By delivering our service in a culturally safe space, the community feels comfortable engaging with us and this helps to achieve better health outcomes.”
How Art is Healing
Blaklash is an Aboriginal design studio specialising in country-centred design and cultural placemaking. Blaklash provided design support for artists on Bribie Island, Caboolture and Kallangur satellite hospitals.
“Blaklash had the pleasure of supporting several of the First Nations artists engaged to contribute artworks and stories now embedded across the many sites making up Metro North Satellite Hospitals.
Each artist has made a significant contribution to the project by generously sharing their artworks and community stories. These artworks and stories serve as visible markers of the continuum of First Nations culture that flows through each site.
Incorporating First Nations artworks and stories into health initiatives is crucial for acknowledging and appreciating the role that First Nations cultural knowledge has in the process of healing and well-being. The integration of artwork in these spaces also provides an opportunity for cross-cultural sharing and creates a dialogue around the importance of caring for Country and the connection between the health of Country and its People. Furthermore, recognising the significance of cultural practice and of First Nations perspectives in healing is an important step towards a more culturally safe and inclusive environment for First Nations peoples within health services.”
Christopher Bassi, Associate Art & Design, Blaklash
About The Metro North Satellite Hospital Murals
Caboolture Satellite Hospital – A story of continuity and healing by artist James Doyle – Kabi Kabi descendant
Kallangur Satellite Hospital – A story of fire and healing by artist Brittney Bond – Kabi Kabi descendant
Bribie Island Satellite Hospital – A story of people and the sea by artist Melissa Bond – Kabi Kabi descendant
A story of people and the sea by artist Melissa Bond. The Sea connects us and is an abundance for food. The Cypress pine reminds us that the environment heals, Shell middens shows us that our people were here since the time immemorial, and remind us of the importance of healthy food for a healthy life.
A story of fire and healing by artist Brittney Bond. This is a story of fire and healing, we find and collect the leaves of the Scribbly Gum for the fire sticks to carry the flames and light the way and let the smoke cleanse the land and heal our people.
A story of continuity and healing by artist James Doyle. The name Caboolture comes from the language words Kabul-tur meaning place of the carpet snake. The snake winds like the Caboolture River that flows out and connects to Moreton Bay. The Moreton Bay Fig leaf has healing properties that have been used since time immemorial and the sun marks the beginning of the new day.